САБИН ПФАЙСТЕРЕР | SABINE PFISTERER

Russian Evolution project

Russia is submitted to permanent changes. It reminds as an example for extremes in all areas, starting from the temperature and the size of the huge country, followed by power and suppression under single man and regimes of poverty and wealth.

Wealth and luxury are shown to the outside as prestige objects. However, whilst luxury cars line the streets of Moscow. the picture of "babushkas" in traditional cloths selling little things from the Datcha on the streets still remains. In one glance you can see that the strong chain of power of the orthodox church was overturned by stalinist/socialist sphere of influence. Similarly as in totalitarian way western consumer culture nowadays conquers the cities.

What is the force that holds this big country together? What gives the inhabitants this strong feeling of home, midst all this changing, hard lives in freezing winters and hot summers and a history of suppression?